Outdoor activities in Fort William

In summer we offer: • Ben Nevis ascents via the Pony track, CMD arête, Ledge Route and Tower Ridge. • Low level walks like Steal Waterfalls  • Glen Nevis adventure walk, climbing and abseil, • Glen Coe walks and the Aonach Eagach and Curved Ridge • Munros • Off the beaten track walks including Corbetts and hard to find peaks. • Navigation training.  • 4 day Skye Cuillin Munro course • Skye Cuillin Ridge Traverse over 2 days In winter we offer:  • Ben Nevis ascents, (see our dates) • Winter skills courses of 1,2 and 3 day duration, (see our dates) • Guided winter Munros, • Winter navigation training. For more information about dates, prices and our activities please get in touch www.thehighlandmountaincompany.co.uk or to see recent photos at our Facebook page Included in our price is the use of ice axe and crampons for winter activities, helmets and harness for all climbing and abseiling activities.  Our Guides live year round in the Highlands.  They are fully qualified mountain instructors and have many years experience taking people into the mountains.  Their local knowledge about the area, mountain landscape and history is second to none and they are more than eager to chat to you and show you the hidden gems of the Highlands, you never knew existed.  Situated at the base of Ben Nevis, The Highland Mountain Company offers and delivers high quality mountain guiding and instruction in a range of mountain activities to families, friends and small groups.  Whether its your first step in the mountains or looking for another adventure to add to your experience, we have something for you. *Buy an activity as a gift for someone else* If you see something that you think someone else would enjoy then please get in contact and we can send a gift voucher.

Board Souter’s Lass for a wonderful cruise down Loch Linnhe and enjoy the breath-taking scenery of Lochaber. With our unique and informative skipper’s commentary, you may well see some of Scotland’s best wildlife including the family of porpoise who live in Loch Linnhe, salmon, common and grey seals, heron, red deer, otter and maybe even a golden eagle. You will also cruise past Britain’s tallest mountain and appreciate one of the most unique views of the southern slopes of Ben Nevis. From March to October cruises depart daily at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm; numbers and weather permitting. Call 01397 700174 to book. Prices are £15 per adult and £7.50 per child. A Family ticket is £42.00. Children under 5 go free. During the summer we also provide evening cruises, so you can enjoy the same sites of Lochaber while the sun sets. In 2015 these will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm. Souter’s Lass benefits from a comfortable and spacious all-weather viewing lounge with a bar serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, plus handy restrooms, which means that everything you need for a great trip is onboard. Use the contact form below to get in touch with any enquiries.

Traigh Golf Course welcome visitors and is “Probably the most beautifully sited nine hole Golf Course in the world” (says The Scotsman newspaper).  It was recently made world famous by a large sinkhole that opened up on the course. The sinkhole has now been safely repaired and the course is playing better than ever - complete with a new grassy bunker! Traigh Golf Course is known as "one of the most scenic golf courses in Scotland" (say BBC) and is located 40 miles west of Fort William. The word Traigh (pronounced “Try”) means beach in gaelic, and the course lies beside sandy beaches and rocky islets, with spectacular views to the islands of Eigg and Rhum, and to the Cuillins of Skye. Golf has been played at Traigh since about 1900, but the old layout was rather cramped, and the course was enlarged and greatly improved in 1994. It was redesigned by the well known golf architect Mr. John Salvesen, with assistance from Mr. James MacDonald, Head Greenkeeper at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, who is a native of Arisaig. The feature of the course is a line of grassy hills, originally sand dunes, which rise some sixty feet, and the first hole demands a skilful tee shot to the top. At the second, a long drive is needed, to get from one summit to the next. The third drops down towards the beach, while the fourth passes between two gorse covered hills to a beautifully positioned green. The fifth hole crosses a broad burn - broader still at high tide - and the sixth comes back across the burn in a tricky dogleg par four The seventh - which was the location of the sinkhole - is a long par five, while the eighth climbs back to the top of the hill, and the glorious view, and the ninth drops down again to the beach and the clubhouse. Golfers Information Visitors are always welcome. Clubs are available for hire. Golf clubs, balls, tees, gloves and clothing are on sale at the clubhouse. Advance booking is only required for larger parties. Fees should be paid at the clubhouse, or if it is closed put in the Honesty Box. How to find us Traigh lies two miles north of Arisaig, six miles south of Mallaig and forty miles west of Fort William. Take the A830 main road to Arisaig, then follow the coastal road (B8008) two miles north. There is a signpost to the course on the A830. Park across the road from the white Clubhouse. Visit Fort William also recommends Fort William Golf Club, Spean Bridge Golf Club and the Dragon's Tooth course at Ballachulich

Holes: 9. Par: 68. SSS: 65. Length: 5038 Probably one of the most scenic golf courses in Scotland! In the heart of Glencoe, located not far from Ballachulish and about 12 miles south of Fort William, the Dragon's Tooth is a magnificent, woodland course set below a 3,000+ foot mountain. Hotels and excellent restaurants nearby. Golf Club hire available. We have an excellent Clubhouse and cafe operated by enthusiastic people. Visit Fort William also recommends Traigh Golf Course at Arisaig, a beautiful scenic course by the sea. There is also a good course just north of Fort William and at Spean Bridge.

The centre's position offers exceptional facilities for watersports enthusiasts of all levels. The Lochaber & Fort William area bounded by an extensive coastal & marine environment. Snowgoose Mountain Centre is surrounded by safe water with easy access to the sheltered tidal waters of Loch Linnhe and access to the open sea down the length of Loch Linnhe beyond Corran Narrows. SEA KAYAKING In the Lochaber area there is a truly amazing variety of inland lochs and coastline offering wide selection of sea kayak trips - offering everything from sheltered paddling journeys on placid lochs with lots of islands to discover, to open tidal water with fast tidal currents. Our beginner sea kayak sessions on Loch Linnhe are a gentle introduction to the effects of paddling on tidal waters. The inland lochs of Loch Lochy and Loch Sheil are also excellent locations for sea kayaking. A little further away protected by hundreds of small tidal islands (known as skerries) is the coastline surrounding Arisaig bay. An ideal spot to begin an adventure. This area is home to a huge variety of marine wildlife with a fair weather option to paddle up the coastline towards Mallaig with fantastic views out the Inner Hebrides. RIVER KAYAKING Our novice kayaking sessions, courses & holidays are initially based on the sheltered open inland waters of Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy, or Loch Shiel                                With a more experience we can easily progress to the moving water of the rivers Lochy, Oich, and later to the amazing white water of the Roy, Spean, etc. Our favourite spot for beginners on moving water is on Loch Lochy in a wide sheltered open bay with visiting ospreys in the summer – along with small rapids tumbling down from Loch Arkaig a few miles above. Based on the short steep side of the country we have good local access to excellent Grade 111 and above white water rivers which are largely spate in nature, some of which are quite technical in nature. This gives excellent training opportunities for intermediate and advanced white water paddling in a unique environment. OPEN CANOEING. These basic skills sessions are based inland on the more sheltered  Loch Lochy or the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe with also excellent locations to learn the skills of open canoe journeying, for day paddles or with an over night wild camping stop.There are excellent opportunities for overnight expeditions for those with a little more experience - we regularly venture further a field to the tidal waters of Loch Moidart – paddle the Rough Bounds into Arisaig; Loch Sheil; Loch Oich and Loch Arkaig. All of this as well as guided open canoe trips over the 70 mile long Caledonian Canal on the Great Glen Canoe Trail – this being one of the favourites. The idyllic River Oich and Loch Lochy are excellent for an introduction to river paddling in an open canoe  learning  to raft up effectively, lining & poling as well as the opportunity to canoe sail on more advanced courses DINGHY SAILING We have a small fleet of 16' Devon Yawls & 21’ keeled Flying 15 dinghies which can take 4 students plus an instructor. These are all weather dinghies which are fun to sail but also fast and responsive for single handed sailing or a family day out.   There are several options available for Dinghy Sailing with our experienced Instructors from ½ day taster sessions for all the family to 2-3 day sailing & boat handling courses.By the end of a 2 day Beginners course you will have experienced handling the dinghy, sail handling, rope work, be aware of safety on board and  be able to sail as a crew in light winds under supervision. There will be hands on experience of:| The dinghy and its main parts; Basic boat handling – how to sail in all wind directions; Launching & recovery;  weather & meteorology. CANOE AND KAYAK HIRE & THE GREAT GLEN CANOE TRAIL Snowgoose Mountain Centre is well placed at the extreme SW end of the Caledonian Canal for the recently opened Great Glen Canoe Trail. This offers a great opportunity to canoe or kayak along the spectacular Caledonian Canal which runs for nearly 70 miles from near Fort William to Inverness along the very varied stretches of canal as well as the wide open waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness (which are classed as inland seas).We provideGuided canoe & sea kayak trips along the Great Glen Canoe Trail as well as 2 - 5 day expeditions in other fantastic remote and wild locations on the west coast of Scotland. We do not hire our boats to inexperienced paddlersFull open canoe, sea & river kayak hire / outfitting packages including paddles, buoyancy aids, barrels, BDH bottles, dry bags, trolley wheels, etc.  Full camping & expedition equipment hire - plus full information on the best campsites & local services.A full shuttle service for boats & gear to the end of the finish of the Canoe Trail and elsewhere - and free drop of to the top of Neptune's Staircase at Banavie to all our hire customers.  Locally based paddling information and advice when you arrive with us - based on over 30 years of local paddling experience.

Wild Food, Wild Places, we have a 40ft deluxe charter vessel Cyfish with comfortable seating and galley to cook from.  This makes the perfect platform to explore the seascapes and environs of the Knoydart peninsula, Isle of Skye, Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna  the Hebridean Treasures. Experience wildlife and nature in its timeframe.  Venture off the beaten track, visit remote inaccessible places, fish and forage, cook your catch on board our vessel or on a remote beach over an open fire. Share traditional skills local knowledge and story telling,  Making your adventures personal we lead the way......

Laser Clay Shooting   Fun! Skilled!  Addictive! The laser sport system uses real deactivated Berretta single trigger 12 Bore shotguns fitted with state of the art electronic gadgetry! The clays are released from a standard electronic trap and participants aim at them just as they would under normal clay pigeon shooting conditions, however when they pull the trigger, the gun fires an infra-red beam at the clay targets. This beam then bounces from the clay back to the electronic scoreboard which registers a “hit” or a “miss” on the scoreboard with a loud “bang” coming from the speakers. Whilst the guns are entirely safe, good gun protocol is always encouraged and there is also none of the painful “kickback” that you might experience from using real shotguns. One of the advantages of Laser Clay Pigeon shooting over standard Clay Pigeon shooting is that all participants (up to 5) can shoot at each clay at the same time, enabling all to an enjoyable activity shooting up to 80 clays in any one session. Even though it is not the same as the real thing, it is safe and good fun for all, and should anyone want to take it further Laser Clay shooting is an idea stepping stone to traditional Clay pigeon shooting.

Your Ben Nevis and Glencoe Guide - Friendly and Professional.  Here at Hunter Mountaineering we have a passion and reputation for excellence in Private Guiding, Instruction, Coaching and Courses. We operate in both Summer and Winter, with activities ranging from Walking up Ben Nevis (summer or winter), to classic rock or ice climbs, mountain navigation and safety. We are based in Fort William but operate all over the Highlands of Scotland.   Decide what you want to do, then email Max  [email protected]  Ben Nevis Professional Guiding on Ben Nevis, on the 'Mountain Track', or on the North Face. You can join a group, or make a private booking -  1. Ben Nevis Walk in Winter - Join a Group 2. Ben Nevis Walk in Winter - Private Booking 3. Ben Nevis Walk in Summer - Join a Group 4. Ben Nevis Walk in Summer - Private Booking 5. Climb the North Face Private Guiding  This is your opportunity to describe exactly what you want to do, when, where and with who. Do you want to have mountain guiding, instruction or coaching? Examples of possible opportunities -  * Learn to lead climb * Be guided on a climb or scramble * Learn to navigate in summer or winter * Learn avalanche awareness and avoidance * Go somewhere new and exciting Summer and Winter The Highlands in Scotland offer spectacular opportunities for mountaineering, scrambling and climbing in both Summer (Spring, Summer and Autumn) and Winter seasons. These days and courses are designed to make all of these open to you.  1. Summer - Scrambling and Mountaineering 2. Summer - Introduction to Rock Climbing 3. Summer - Rock Climbing Classics 4. Winter - Mountaineering 5. Winter - Introduction to Winter Climbing 6. Winter - Climbing About Hunter Mountaineering Do you love mountains, the outdoors, and the highlands of Scotland? So do I. My name is Max Hunter, and I founded Hunter Mountaineering in 2009 - based here in Fort William, at the base of Ben Nevis – a beautiful place to live and work. I hold the Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (the ‘MIC’ – the highest professional certification for Mountaineering in Great Britain), and am a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) and the Mountain Training Association (MTA). Decide what you want to do, then Email Max, to make it happen [email protected] Tel:     07724 740225 Web:    www.HunterMountaineering.co.uk

At Lochaber Guides we pride ourselves in offering our clients a unique and unforgettable experience in the Scottish Mountains. From meeting you at the start of your trip to taking the final few steps, our highly experienced, professional and qualified guides will be there to look after you and give you a trip to remember! Being a small company, we like to offer our clients a personalised touch. That may mean meeting you the night before for an informal chat about your trip with us the following day, picking you up and dropping you off at your accommodation, or joining you for a celebratory drink after your successful day in the mountains. We specialise in guided ascents of Ben Nevis: For those wishing to take a walking route to the summit, we can guide you on the Mountain Track or the more challenging but spectacular Carn Mor Dearg Arete. We also offer guiding on some of the classic mountaineering/scrambling routes on Ben Nevis such as Ledge Route and the outstanding Tower Ridge ! For those wishing to do some rock climbing on the UK’s highest mountain, North East Buttress and Observatory Ridge are fantastic routes to the summit. · In nearby Glencoe, the spiritual home of Scottish Mountaineering, we can offer guiding on some of the areas classic scrambles such as Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor or the (in)famous Aonach Eagach Ridge! As well as these technical routes, we can guide you on walks in Glencoe to suit all levels of experience. We run courses in Hill skills, for those taking their first steps into the hills, as well as courses in scrambling, for the walkers who wish to become mountaineers! We also offer courses in Rock Climbing for all levels, ranging form beginners, to those wishing to lead multi-pitch climbs.   Further afield, we can guide you on the mighty Cuillin Ridge on Skye with days ranging from bagging the Munros, some classic scrambles or the full Cuillin Ridge Traverse. Winter -The popular Ben Nevis in Winter trip -Guided Munro walking -Winter Skills Courses- 1 day or 2 day or tailor made -Ben Nevis Winter Weekend- a day of skills followed by a day climbing the UK's Highest Peak in Winter! Lochaber Guides is run by Dave Anderson. Dave holds Mountaineering Instructors Award (MIA), the highest UK instructional award for Summer mountaineering/climbing. He also holds the Winter Mountain Leader Award. More importantly though, he is super friendly and has a true passion for the mountains and his enthusiasm shines through. Whether you are new to the mountains or experienced we are here to help you fulfil your goals in a safe, friendly and professional way. Adventure Awaits... www.lochaber-guides.co.uk

Rockhopper Sea Kayaking is based near Fort William on the West Coast of Scotland. We offer half, full or multi-day kayak trips through some of the most spectacular coastal, mountain and island scenery in Scotland. This area is rich in wildlife and you may be lucky enough to encounter seals, dolphins, porpoise, otters, a huge variety of coastal birds or perhaps even the white tailed sea eagle. Whether new to the sport or an experienced sea kayaker, we will provide an unforgettable experience. Our Sea kayaks are long, stable and easy to control and we have large double kayaks available for youngsters or those who are a little apprehensive. All equipment is provided by us. Families, groups and individuals are all welcome. We also provide a canoe hire service and equipment.

Come and explore the steeper side of Lochaber! I provide experienced and friendly guiding and instruction on Ben Nevis and in Glencoe. I specialise in taking and teaching novices climbing and mountaineering. All my days out are bespoke and just for you and your party. Whether you are looking for a guided day out on a spectacular route or to learn/polish up on your own skills to become more independent in the hills and on the rock. Expect to be asked a lot of questions about you and what YOU want from a day out as I'll be trying hard to make it a great experience for YOU! If you are a hillwalker already I can take you onto classic routes such as Ledge Route or Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis or perhaps Curved Ridge or the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe. If you are/aspire to be a rock climber we can do a day locally on the accessible crags of Polldubh or head for a classic route such as Agag's Groove or Adrverikie Wall. I don't hire anyone else so I apologise if I'm not free but I can recommend qualified and experienced colleagues who can give you a great day out locally. Like many of the other qualified local instructors I'm a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors and I also train and assess junior Award holders. I hold the highest Mountain Training UK Qualification for roped mountaineering and climbing the Mountain Instructor's Certificate and am fully insured for all the activities I undertake. To find out more about me visit http://www.climbwhenyoureready.com to see what I can do for you.

Fort William Golf Club is located just north of Fort William by the A82. This course lies under the shadow of Ben Nevis and is a challenging course with great views. Our 9 hole golf course will provide you with a great golfing experience below the highest mountain in the British Isles. You have a good clubhouse with bar and facilities, including club and trolly hire. Visitors are especially welcome and often play a round of golf with our locals.